Part 133 of CASR Australian air transport operations rotorcraft

Flight operation regulations have changed

The flight operations rules changed on 2 December 2021. See all information about transitioning.

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Flight operation regulations have changed

Rule status

Current

Part 133 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) covers the rules for air transport in rotorcraft.

The term ‘air transport’ replaces both charter, regular public transport (RPT) and air ambulance when conducted for hire or reward. It adds the transport of medical supplies or medical personnel for hire or reward as well.

You should also read Part 119 which deals with the general certification and management for air transport operations.

If you conduct other operations, such as aerial work, you need to comply with other CASR flight operations Parts.

Visit our flight operations transition section to find out more. 

Who it affects

Part 133 applies to air transport operations in:

  • helicopters
  • gyroplanes
  • powered lift aircraft.

All operators and pilots also need to comply with Part 91 of CASR General operating and flight rules. Please note Part 133 may add to or turn off some Part 91 requirements – either completely or partially.

Legislation

Legislative instruments

Legislative instruments apply to a broad range of people. These instruments include Manuals of Standards and exemptions to regulatory requirements.

Instruments related to this part will display in this space or you can view our list of legislative instruments.

5 legislative instruments available

Part 133 Manual of Standards
Commences:
Part 133 and Part 91 of CASR Supplementary exemptions and directions instrument 2021
Commences:
CASA EX84/21
Flight operations regulations – SMS, HFP&NTS and T&C Systems – Supplementary exemptions and directions instrument 2021
Commences:
CASA EX87/21
Cockpit voice recorders - Instrument 2007
Commences:
CAO 103.20
Fatigue management
Commences:
CAO 48.1
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Non-legislative instruments

Non-legislative instruments apply to a particular person. Some exemptions to regulatory requirements in aviation regulations or a Manual of Standards may be listed here.

Non-legislative instruments related to this part will display in this space or you can view our list of non-legislative instruments.

2 non-legislative instruments available

Crew Life Jackets (Skyplan Australia Pty Ltd t/a Rotorlift)
CASA EX58/23
Use of Medevac Litter in SAR and Medical Transport Operations (Skyplan and Lifeflight)
CASA EX74/23
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Guidance material

Advisory material provides advice and guidance to explain particular regulatory requirements of a CASR Part. Guidance material relating to this part will appear in this space or you can view all our guidance material.

13 guidance material available

Part 133 Australian air transport operations - rotorcraft AMC-GM

Updated:

Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material (AMC-GMs) for part 133 Australian air transport operations - rotorcraft.

DOWNLOAD Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material (AMC-GM) - Part 133 (PDF, 1.34 MB)
Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material, Flight ops - General resource Version: 2.3

Multi-Part AC 91-13, AC 133-09 and AC 138-06 - Night vision imaging - helicopters

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular 91-13, AC 133-09 and AC 138-06 provides guidance on the conduct of helicopter operations using NVIS. This publication supports and expands upon the content of Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Part 91, Part 133 and Part 138 and relevant Manual of Standards (MOS).

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 91-13, AC 133-09 and AC 138-06 - Night vision imaging - helicopters (PDF, 791.88 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.2

AC 1-02 - Guide to the development of expositions and operations manuals

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 1-02 provides information to the aviation industry, detailing the requirements to have and maintain an exposition or operations manual to meet the regulatory requirements of CASR and the MOS.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-02 Guide to the development of expositions and operations manuals (PDF, 922.78 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 3.3

AC 1-04 - Registered operator responsibilities for continuing airworthiness

Updated:

This AC provides guidance for operators relating to their management of the continuing airworthiness, and maintenance, of aircraft being used for their operations.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-04 Registered operator responsibilities for continuing airworthiness (PDF, 326.02 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.0

AC 1-03 - Transitioning to the flight operations regulations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 1-03 provides advice on CASR regulations pertaining the flight operations. They include Parts 91, 119, 121,133, 135 and 138 of CASR, specifically for those transitioning to these regulations on 2 December 2021.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-03 Transitioning to the flight operations regulations (PDF, 743.07 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 4.2

Multi-part AC 91-30, AC 121-12, AC 133-03 and AC 135-14 - Emergency locator transmitters

Updated:

This AC provides guidance regarding the requirements for registration and use of emergency location transmitters for operations that fall under Parts 91, 121, 133, and 135 of CASR.

DOWNLOAD Multi-part AC 91-30, AC 121-12, AC 133-03 and AC 135-14 - emergency locator transmitters (PDF, 320.55 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.0

AC 133-01 - Performance class operations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 133-01 provides guidance the requirements for rotorcraft take-off, initial climb, en-route, approach and landing performance, including an Acceptable Means of Compliance with Subpart 133.F of CASR and Manual of Standards.

DOWNLOAD AC 133-01 Performance class operations (PDF, 1.59 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 3.1

AC 133-02 - Performance Class 2 with exposure operations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 133-02 provides guidance on the Helicopter Performance Class 2 with exposure, including, where relevant, an Acceptable Means of Compliance with Part 133 of CASR and Manual of Standards.

DOWNLOAD AC 133-02 Performance Class 2 with exposure operations (PDF, 1.78 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.3

Multi-Part AC 121-08, AC 133-08 and AC 135-06 - Carry-on baggage

Updated:

Advisory Circular Multi-Part AC 121-08, AC 133-08 and AC 135-06 provides guidance regarding the requirements for carry-on baggage

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 121-08, AC 133-08 and AC 135-06 Carry-on baggage (PDF, 363.14 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.0

Multi-Part AC 121-05, AC 133-04 and AC 135-08 - Passenger, crew and baggage weights

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 121-05, AC 133-04 and AC 135-08 describes acceptable methods for calculating passenger, crew and checked baggage weights for an Australian air transport operator.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 121-05, AC 133-04 and AC 135-08 Passenger, crew and baggage weights (PDF, 566.88 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1

Multi-Part AC 121-09, AC 133-06 and AC 135-10 - Carriage of special category passenger

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 121-09, AC 133-06 and AC 135-10 provides guidance regarding the requirements for the carriage of special categories of passengers (SCPs) for operations that fall under Parts 91, 133, 135 and 121 of CASR.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 121-09, AC 133-06 and AC 135-10 Carriage of special categories passenger (PDF, 431.4 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 1.0

Multi-Part AC 121-10, AC 133-07 and AC 135-11 - Passengers seated in emergency exit row seats

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 121-10, AC 133-07 and AC 135-11 provides guidance regarding the requirements for assigning passengers to seats in an emergency exit row for operations that fall under Parts 133, 135 and 121 of CASR.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 121-10, AC 133-07 and AC 135-11 Passengers seated in emergency exit row seats (PDF, 341.57 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 1.0

Multi-Part AC 91-19, AC 121-04, AC 133-10, AC 135-12 and AC 138-10 - Passenger safety information

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 91-19, AC 121-04, AC 133-10, AC 135-12 and AC 138-10 provides guidance regarding the requirements for safety briefing cards and passenger safety briefings, instructions and demonstrations for operations.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 91-19, AC 121-04, AC 133-10, AC 135-12 and AC 138-10 Passenger safety information (PDF, 601.74 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1
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Supporting resources

5 supporting resources available

Part 133 of CASR Key operational changes

This document is intended to assist persons who will conduct air transport operations under Part 133 of CASR to prioritise their actions to transition to the new flight operations regulations.

Training and checking determinations plain English

The purpose of this document is to present and summarise the key elements of these determinations in plainer English, as the legal instruments themselves are relatively lengthy, repetitive and complex.

Flight operations regulations consolidated dictionary

The document supports the commencement of the flight operations regulations and represents the definitions from across the legislative suite as it will appear when those rules commence on 02 December 2021.

Impact of new flight operations regulations on flight crew licencing exams

Impact of new flight operations regulations on flight crew licencing exams. The introduction of the new flight operations regulations on 2 December 2021 will mean changes to the various flight crew licensing (FCL) theory exams.

CASR flight operations sample exposition / operations manual

This Guide assists operators using the associated CASR Flight Operations Sample Exposition / Operations Manual template in Word format. The contents in this Guide, the associated Word, and MAAT templates has been structured in a logical order and provides clear references to the legislative requirements.

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Related rules and publications

Last updated date
Updated:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//rules/regulatory-framework/casr/part-133-casr-australian-air-transport-operations-rotorcraft
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